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Maybe he should string a few games together before we start this conversation?

He's obviously inconsistent, noone can argue that, but a knock on him prior to the 30+ explosions recently and looking more assertive was that even though we believed he had potential he hadn't put together an entire game where he "dominated", and looked in control unless he was just hitting a lucky amount of 3's. The last two games were different, he was controlling the games for large stretches, he was attacking the basket with a purpose and scoring or creating easy shots for others, he was decisive in his moves, he knew what shot he wanted and didn't hesitate, be it midrange, drive and kick or whatever. He's shown all the skill necessary to be a 20+ scorer during the last two games, he can't do it consistently yet, but he absolutely has the ability, he can obviously drain 3's, which opens up alot, but he's been using his height and improved handles to get to the middle of the floor for mid ranged J's that no shooting guard can really bother at 6'9 and his arms, he's used the threat of a 3 to get into the lane and find open spot up guys or cutters and used his length to get the ball on the rim, after which good things tend to happen with rebounders on the floor like we have. I've seen him attack matchups against smaller guys by doing a little mid post move into a slight fade away taking advantage of his high release... These are winning moves, they aren't lucky or awkward like some of the stuff Tyler has thrown somehow through the hoop in the past, it's good stuff that can be the foundation of a consistent high caliber scoring repotoir, and moves that George should be able to consistently get, even against tough coverage.

The best part is that the things he has been doing are things we've known he could do all along, but it seems like his mindset has been different the last two, there isn't the hesitation, there isn't the deferring even when he himself is the best option for the team, he hasn't been hanging his head when he misses a shot. It's exciting because his skill or physical talent has never been holding him back, and if he continues to be aggressive it could be a game changer for the team.

I mean PG did average a respectable amount of points on a balanced team last year, and he did it efficiently, this year has been about adjusting to a more featured role, with more attention, an dthe other teams best perimeter defender riding you. Games like the last two illustrate that George certainly has the capability to step up and play like a star on the offensive side of the floor, and not just the defensive one. Noone is declaring he's going to average 20+ the rest of the season, but imo these last two games were the two best of his career, and it was his decisive presense that connected them thematically, it's very good news for Indy.

Now he just needs to avoid completely dissapearing, we don't need 20+ from him every night, but lets see if he can put up at least 14-15 each night even if he isn't on fire, games like that in between great games like the last two, instead of peppered with nights of 0-5 points every once and a while would be great progress. I think George is finally "getting it" though. He's beginning to really see the connection between the Pacers' winning and his own assertiveness and fingerprint on the games. I've always believed PG to be a team guy first, if he thinks that not shooting and deferring on offense to focus on defense gives them the best chance to win, then that's what Paul is inclined to do, but if he's realizing that a more featured role for him offensively is what we need to win the most ball games, then I think we'll see a much more consistently aggressive PG looking for his own shot as well as creating for others off of his action. Vogel, I believe is a great guy for this particular situation, as his greatest strengths as a coach lie in motivating players and instilling drive and confidence in the people around him. I wouldn't be suprised to see PG play at a consistently high level for the majority of the rest of the season, it isn't that he put up two great games in a row in a box score sense (though i'm rather sure he's never done that before this either) it's the moxy and approach during those games that is exciting to me as a Pacers fan. Paul with that mindset is a guy that can be one of the best two way players in basketball. I believe that it was Naptown_Seth that was musing about how PG would just "get it" one day and start to perform consistently at a very high level, despite his previous inconsistencies, I think he's correct, but that was always how it was going to happen, as it isn't really ability that was in doubt, but the wherewithal to consistently apply his talent on a ball game when necessary.

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

My thoughts exactly. Almost any player in this league can put together 2 great games.

Consistency is when PG does this 8 of out 10 games (at least).

Nevertheless, PG is only 22 years old. He's still young - but playing exceptionally well.

I hope we dont start hearing "trade Granger, we've got PG" again

I'm not sure that he needs to have 8 out of 10 games like the last two.

What I do want to see is games like last nights and tuesdays bookended by "decent to good" performances (14-15 ppg on non-attrocious percentages) instead of by games like the previous two before the two stellar games he just had. That would be great progress and bode well for his development as a top offensive player. My optimistic expectation is we'll see PG average 17-18 ppg over the last few months of the season, score 20+ every few games but avoid the games where it seemed like PG decided the TV camera would steal his soul if he was caught doing something aggressive offensively to stand out.

What everyone should be able to agree on is that it's certainly great that PG is showing flashes of all-star offensive ability for entire games as opposed to bits and pieces scattered throughout the schedule and practice, and whose only huge games were ones were he was unholy hot from behind the arc, which simply isn't going to happen more than every once and a while.

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

I have to agree with Paul George coming starting to emerge - big time.

Looking back at when the Pacers first got Reggie and how he developed, I know this may sound
sacreligious, but it looks to me like PG is ahead of Reggie's curve at the same point of their
development in several different areas.

It is doubtful PG will have the longevity Reggie had (that is VERY rare), but if PG could just keep
getting more and more of a killer "dagger to the heart" instinct, he may end up being the one of
the best to ever wear a Pacers uniform.

I have seen enough to be seriously convinced PG is indeed our new Reggie, and hopefully for a
long time to come.

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

When Paul averages 20PPG over the course of a couple months...we can say he's starting to emerge...assuming that means emerging as a star in the league. As long as he comes back with 2-12 game with 7 points every 3 or 4 games, he has not arrived. That's not what stars do.

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

let's see is Paul has scored 500 points by game 41. Anyone can score 20 pts once or twice or for a week. To be an NBA star, he needs to produce game in and game out, not once or twice a week. Wait and see how long it takes him to get 500 points before crowning him king.

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

When Paul averages 20PPG over the course of a couple months...we can say he's starting to emerge...assuming that means emerging as a star in the league. As long as he comes back with 2-12 game with 7 points every 3 or 4 games, he has not arrived. That's not what stars do.

So, according to your definition, can we assume that you consider Lillard to be a "star"?

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

When Paul averages 20PPG over the course of a couple months...we can say he's starting to emerge...assuming that means emerging as a star in the league. As long as he comes back with 2-12 game with 7 points every 3 or 4 games, he has not arrived. That's not what stars do.

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

let's see is Paul has scored 500 points by game 41. Anyone can score 20 pts once or twice or for a week. To be an NBA star, he needs to produce game in and game out, not once or twice a week. Wait and see how long it takes him to get 500 points before crowning him king.

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

it had better happen this year. He has 285 pts already. Actually my number was too low. The question should be how long it takes him to get to 1000 points. In other words, can he produce game after game. Lots of guys can score for a game or two. To be a star, he needs to generate numbers.

Re: Paul George coming starting to emerge

I'm not so much looking for 20 point games as I am a consistent tendency to take good shots, penetrate, get to the rim, draw fouls, etc.

If he does all this and goes 3-12 and scores 10 points once in a while, I won't be too upset. Because if he does the right things, he will end up averaging around 6-12 and 16-18 or so points and a healthy number of assists. That's what we need from him.

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"I like our group of people," Ainge told USA Today. "I'm trying to teach them about basketball, and they're trying to teach me about analytics."